Invalid-bed.



PATBNTED OCT. 29, 1907.

J. D. BIRMINGHAM.

INVALID BED.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 19. 1906.

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UNITED STATES JOHN D. BIRUINGHAH, OF WlLKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

INVALID-BED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1907.

Application filed December 19. 1906. Serial No. 348.606.

To all 'whom if may concern:

Beit known that I, .louN D. BIRMINGHAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Tikes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements inInvalid-Beds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to invalid beds. and belongs to that type whereinthe mattress and such of the bed clothing as is arranged beneath thesick person are formed with apertures normally occupied by a removablepad or plug, in order that a' suitable bed pan may be placed beneath theaperture.

ln certain of such invalid beds with which l am acquainted, variousmechanisms have been introduced for removing thebed pad, and for placingthe bed pan beneath the aperture, and for restoring both the pad and panto their original positions. \\'ith beds of that special character myinvention may be innnediately classified.

The object of my invention is the production of mechanical parts anddevices having particular construction and arrangement by which it isbelieved the succession of operations of removing the pad, placing thepan, and finally restoring both to their first positions as stated maybe most easily effected, and the construction of the bed rendered lesscostly by reason of the simplicity of the mechanism.

rlhe particular construction and arrangement of parts constituting' myinvention is set out in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure lrepresents a side view of my invention with the pad and pan in theirregular positions. Fig. 2 is a top plan view with the mattress removedto disclose the mechanism beneath arranged as in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is aside View with the pad lowered and the pan arranged under the aperture,and Fig. hvt is a side view of a modified form in which the guide rod isbelow instead of above the pad-supporting arm.

ln the drawings and description, like letters refer to the same parts.

The drawings disclose a bed A, having a mattress D provided with asuitable aperture l). Occupying the aperture is a bed pad C, providedbeneath with a verti- :al stem D, pivotally secured to the swinging endof a spring arm E. The remaining end of the arm E is rigidly secured tothe main or operating shaft F, transversely disposed with respect to thebed, and adapted to be rocked in brackets G constructed with bearingsfor` the shaft. The shaft is rocked by any convenient lever H, and whenso rocked it is thought to be now apparent that the pad will be drawndownwardly from its position in the aperture b. Dy reason of the pivotalconnection of the stem D of the pad, and the arm E, the pad would nowfall, were it not for the guide rods .i and K. The guide rods are eachpivotally connected at one end with the brackets G, and the outer endsof the rods are secured pivolally to the stem D of the bed pad. lt isnot material whether the guide rods are secured above the spring arm llas in Figi l, or below it as in Eig. 4, the action being precisely thesame in both arrangements. The office of the guide rods is to guide thepad, particularly, in the restoring movement into the aperture I).Extending as the rods do from the side and meeting at the stem D, it isthought to be shown that no movement sidewise or lengthwise with respectlo the bed is permitted the stem and pad. The pad is guided alwayspositively and accurately into the aperture.

In addition to the pad, I construct a bed pan L. Normally, the pan issituated at the side of the bed, and is closed by a lid or cover Mattached to the bed and provided on its under side with a layer of felt1n., that may be readily and cheaply renewed, and which is in contactwith the rim of the pan and effectively closes it against thc escape ofodors.

lied pan l; is directly supported by the laterally swinging arm N, whichis secured to the upper end of a short, vertical shaft O, held movablyin bearings P, forming part of the dependent bracket or hanger Q,attached to the bed frame. '.lhe shaft O has a crank arm l, pivotallyconnected with the rod S. The other end of the rod S is pivot-allyconnected with the crank arm l that is rigidly secured to the maintransverse or operating shaft E.

The operation of my invention is effected by means of the lever ll onthc main shaft, by moving which, as may be readily discerned from thedrawings, the pad is lowered thus withdrawing it from the aperture b,and, the pan is at the same time carried from the side of the bed into aposition directly beneath the aperture. The parts are so constructedthat no interference takes place, and they are restored to [i1-stpositions by a contrary movement of the lever. The pan slides under thecover M in contact with the yielding felt m and is thereby tightlyclosed.

Arm E, hereinabove, has been termed a spring arm. While the necessaryquality of elasticity may be gained by making the arm o f springmaterial, other constructions might be substituted, when it isconsidered that one ollice of the spring arm is to hold the pad in theaperture yieldiugly beneath the patient.

Having now described my invention, and explained the inode of itsoperation, what l claim is- 1. ln an invalid bed. the combination with:i main shaft. of a bed pad havingv a downwardly projecting stein, :inarm rigidly secured to the said shaft and pivotally secured to thc saidstem, guide rods cach having`- one end pivotally .secured to the hed,the said guide rods beine, convoi-gently arranged towards the said stemol.' the bed pad and pivotally connected with the said stem at a pointseparated from the point of connection of the said arm and stem wherebythc said bed pad is guided in an up and down movement. substantiall)v asdos( ihcd.

2, In an invalid bed, the combination with a main shaft. of a bed padharing' a downwardly projecting stiiii, an elastic ai'in rigidly stcuredto tliiy said shait and pivotall5Y sfciirvd to the said -stmn. g'iiidcrods carl' havingl ono and pivotally sociircd to thc bod. thc lsaidguido rods being convcrgcntly ari'angod towards the said stom of the bsdpad and pivot-1113v connected with thix said Stein at a point separatedfrom tlic` point 0f connoction of the said arm and stein whereby thi`said bod pad is guided in an up and down moveinont. substantially asdescribed.

3. In an invalid bed. tlic combination with a nniin shaft. ot' an arinsecured to tho shaft'. a bod pad pivotalhv connected with the saidariii. guiding' niians connoctml `with the bod and with the said pad and.swiiitriiigr corl l i l l i -'.V In an invalid bed. tho combinationwith a main slial 01" a bod pad having a downwardly projecting stein.ziii ariii rikjidl)Y scciirod to tho said shaft and pivotally suciirvdto tho said stiin. guido rnds nach havingl ono 0nd pivoizilly sociirrdto thol bod, the said ;'nidn rods being convc'fontly arranged towardstho said stem ot' the lied pad and pivotall;v coniicctcd with thc "iidstom at :i point suparatcd from tho point of connection ot' the saidarni :ind si'cinA :i bod pan. and ninans actuated by thc opirzitinn ot'tliv inain shaft and constriictfd and arranged to iiiovc tlirl said bodpan into a predetermined position lwnoiilli thc bod and to restore tlicsaid pan to its Orr inal position. substantially as dvscribod.

.IOIIN l), BIRMINGHAM.

Witncsscs 1 l O. Il, Inman. H. F. GnDDLs.

